====== IFLRY Membership Fee System ======

This page explains how membership fees are calculated for full, associate and observer member organisations of IFLRY for the calendar year 2025. The rules were confirmed by the General Assembly held in Tallinn, Estonia (15–17 Nov 2024) and are available [[https://wiki.iflry.com/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=public:financial:fee_statute_2025.pdf|here]].

===== 1. Quick Summary =====

  * The fee has two parts which are added together. 
    * **Per-member component** (based on your 2025 membership count – any date between **1 Jan – 28 Feb 2025**).  
    * **Budget component** (based on your 2024 total income).  
  * **Full Members** pay their fee  based on this calculation.
  * **Associate Members** pay **50 %** of what full members pay.
  * **Observer Members** pay a flat fee of **€50**.
  * **Minimum / Maximum**  
    * Full: **€150 min / €5 000 max**  
    * Associate: **€75 min / €2 500 max**

===== 2. Tariff Tables =====

^ Your Budget (2024) ^ Per-member rate ^ Budget component ^
| €0 – €13 000      | **€0.01** | **€150** |
| €13 001 – €23 000 | **€0.10** | **€300** |
| €23 001 – €67 000 | **€0.15** | **€450** |
| €67 001 – €135 000| **€0.20** | **€600** |
| €135 001 – €203 000     | **€0.25** | **€750** |
| ≥ €203 001   | **€0.25** | **€900** |


===== 3. Calculation Steps (Full Members) =====
  - **Step 1:** Find your 2025 membership count (any day 1 Jan – 28 Feb).  
  - **Step 2:** Locate your 2024 budget band in the table.  
  - **Step 3:**  
     * Per-member fee = (members) × (per-member rate)  
     * Budget fee = (budget component)  
  - **Step 4:** **Total fee** = Per-member fee + Budget fee  
  - **Step 5:** Apply **minimum €150** and **maximum €5 000** caps.  
  - **Step 6 (optional):** Add **5 % Solidarity Fund** donation.

===== 4. Worked Examples =====

==== 4.1 Full Member ====
<code>
Members (Jan 2025):   1 200  
2024 Budget:          €48 000

Per-member rate:      €0.15   (budget band €23 001 – €67 000)
Per-member fee:       1 200 × €0.15 = €180
Budget component:     €450
---------------------------------
Total fee:            €180 + €450 = €630
5 % Solidarity Fund:  0.05 × €630 = €31.50 (optional)

==> Invoice: €630 (+ €31.50 donation)
</code>

==== 4.2 Full Member (Low Budget, Many Members) ====
<code>
Members:              5 000  
Budget:               €10 000

Per-member rate:      €0.01
Per-member fee:       5 000 × €0.01 = €50
Budget component:     €150
---------------------------------
Total fee:            €50 + €150 = €200
Minimum check:        €200 ≥ €150 
5 % Solidarity Fund:  0.05 × €200 = €5 (optional)

==> Invoice: €200 (+ €5 donation)
</code>

==== 4.3 Associate Member ====
<code>
Status:               Associate  
Members               321
Budget:               €70 000

Budget component:     €600
Per-member fee:       321 × €0.20 = €64.20
Subtotal:             €664.20
Associate discount:   50 %
---------------------------------
Total fee:            0.5 × €664.20 = €332.10
Min/Max check:        €332.10 (within €75 – €2 500)
5 % Solidarity Fund:  0.05 × €332.10 = €16.61 (optional)

==> Invoice: €300 (+ €16.61 donation)
</code>

==== 4.4 Observer Member ====
<code>
Status:   Observer  
Fee:      Fixed €50

==> Invoice: €50
</code>

===== 5. Financial Standing =====
An organisation is deemed to be in good financial standing if it has paid the two most recently issued membership fees. The 2025 fee is issued on 1st June 2025 so before that date (for example in May of 2025), financial standing was determined based on having paid the 2023 and 2024 fees. 

If you are not in good financial standing by the start of the roll call at a General Assembly, you will not receive voting rights. Note in particular that positively recommended solidarity fund applications only come into effect after they are approved by the plenary session of the GA (not after they are voted on by the standing committee on finances).
===== 6. Appeals & Solidarity Fund =====

Reduced membership fee applications and solidarity fund applications serve different purposes. Solidarity fund applications are for cancelling existing debts and so are backwards-looking. Reduced membership fee applications are the opposite, they are a request for future fees to be reduced and so are forwards-looking. It is possible to submit one or the other or both! 
  * **Reduced Fee Request:**  
    * Possible when normal fee is unaffordable.  
    * Submit detailed finances ≥ 2 weeks before the GA.  
    * GA sets a new fee (≥ €50).  
  * **Solidarity Fund Help:**  
    * May cover up to **3 years** of outstanding fees.  
    * Same application deadline & document list as above.  
  * **Important:** False information voids any reduction and reinstates the full fee.

===== 7. Debt Write-Off Rule =====
If debts stretch beyond **3 years**, paying the **two most recent years** clears the remainder (except any penalties).